Pick-up tool with hands-free lighting

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a pick-up tool includes an elongated hollow body having first and second pick-up fingers extending divergently outward from a distal end of the body. Engagement elements, such as rubber cups, may be individually located at terminating outer ends of each of the first and second pick-up fingers. The pick-up tool further includes first and second linkages respectively extending from the first and second pick-up fingers. A lighting element is coupled to the body, a magnet is coupled to the first linkage, and a switch, preferably a reed switch is coupled to the distal end of the body. The switch causes the lighting element to emit light for a predetermined period of time upon detecting the magnet at an effectively close distance relative to the switch. A lever or trigger pivotally coupled to the body may be used for drawing the first and second linkages rearward, causing the engagement elements to move closer together, and substantially simultaneously causing the magnet to effectively actuate the switch.

1 . A pick-up tool, comprising: 
 an elongated body having first and second pick-up fingers extending divergently outward from a distal end of said body, and a handle coupled to a proximal end of said body;    engagement elements individually located at terminating outer ends of each of said first and second pick-up fingers;    first and second linkages respectively extending from said first and second pick-up fingers;    a lighting element coupled to said body;    a sensed device coupled to said first linkage;    a proximity switch coupled to said distal end of said body, said proximity switch causing said lighting element to emit light upon detecting said sensed device at an effectively close distance relative to said proximity switch; and    a control component pivotally coupled to said body for drawing said first and second linkages rearward, causing said engagement elements to move closer together, and substantially simultaneously causing said sensed device to effectively engage said proximity switch.    
   
   
       2 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said proximity switch causes said lighting element to emit light for a predetermined period of time.  
   
   
       3 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined time is about 0-60 seconds.  
   
   
       4 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined time is at least 5 seconds.  
   
   
       5 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined time is user-adjustable.  
   
   
       6 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensed device includes a magnet.  
   
   
       7 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said proximity switch is a reed switch.  
   
   
       8 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a manual switch for activating or deactivating said lighting element, regardless of the relative spatial relationship between said sensed device and said proximity switch.    
   
   
       9 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said lighting element is selected from the group consisting of a lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).  
   
   
       10 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said engagement elements each include a rubber cup.  
   
   
       11 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said body is formed from plastic.  
   
   
       12 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said body is formed from aluminum.  
   
   
       13 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said proximity switch is physically coupled to a housing which contains said lighting element.  
   
   
       14 . The pick-up tool according to  claim 1 , wherein said control component is a trigger effectively linked to said first and second linkages.  
   
   
       15 . A lighting assembly for use with a pick-up tool having linkage which slideably projects from a body and is coupled to opposing engagement elements, said pick-up tool including a pivoting control component providing user control of said engagement elements via said linkage, said lighting assembly comprising: 
 a lighting element for coupling to said body;    a sensed device for coupling to said linkage; and    a proximity switch for coupling to said body, said proximity switch causing said lighting element to emit light upon detecting said sensed device at an effective close distance relative to said proximity switch.    
   
   
       16 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said proximity switch causes said lighting element to emit light for a predetermined period of time.  
   
   
       17 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said predetermined time is about 0-60 seconds.  
   
   
       18 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said predetermined time is at least 5 seconds.  
   
   
       19 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said predetermined time is user-adjustable.  
   
   
       20 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said sensed device includes a magnet.  
   
   
       21 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said proximity switch is a reed switch.  
   
   
       22 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said lighting element is selected from the group consisting of a lamp, a light emitting diode (LED), and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).  
   
   
       23 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said proximity switch is physically coupled to a housing which contains said lighting element.  
   
   
       24 . The lighting assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said control component is a trigger effectively linked to said linkage.  
   
   
       25 . A pick-up tool, comprising: 
 an elongated body having first and second pick-up fingers extending divergently outward from a distal end of said body;    means for engaging objects, individually located at terminating outer ends of each of said first and second pick-up fingers;    means for linking said first and second pick-up fingers with a control component;    selectively actuable means for lighting coupled to said body;    means for detecting proximity of a sensed device coupled to said means for linking; and    means for drawing said means for linking rearward, said means for drawing causing said means for engaging objects to move closer together, and substantially simultaneously causing said sensed device to effectively engage said means for detecting proximity, resulting in said means for lighting to emit light.    
   
   
       26 . A pick-up tool, comprising: 
 an elongated body having first and second pick-up fingers extending divergently outward from a distal end of said body, and a handle coupled to a proximal end of said body;    engagement elements individually located at terminating outer ends of each of said first and second pick-up fingers;    first and second linkages respectively extending from said first and second pick-up fingers;    a lighting element coupled to said body;    a sensed device coupled to said first pick-up finger;    a proximity switch coupled to said distal end of said body, said proximity switch causing said lighting element to emit light upon detecting said sensed device at an effective close distance relative to said proximity switch; and    a control component pivotally coupled to said body for drawing said first and second linkages rearward, causing said engagement elements to move closer together, and substantially simultaneously causing said sensed device to effectively engage said proximity switch.    
   
   
       27 . A method for activating a light element of a pick-up tool having linkage which slideably projects from a body and is coupled to opposing engagement elements, said pick-up tool including a pivoting control component providing user control of said engagement elements via said linkage, said method comprising: 
 detecting proximity of a sensed device coupled to said linkage, relative to a switch associated with said body; and    actuating said light element upon an occurrence of said detecting.